Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Three more hours and it’s coming on in leaps and bounds! It’s easy to clear where it’s been rotorvated, but rock solid elsewhere. I prepared the second bed on Saturday morning and cleared the area where the compost bin will go.All the wood has come from the factory next to where I work, who have said I can help myself to anything off the ‘broken’ pile in front of their skip. Just need the time to finish it …………..

Just got back from ½ an hour on my knees using the hand shears to cut down all the weeds from the rest of the plot. Made sure I disturbed the greenery first, and caught & re-located 3 frogs. Couldn’t bear to chop one up by mistake. The light ran out so had to come home. HWDD has fixed us up to broadband tonight so there is no excuse for infrequent postings now now!

Monday, August 14, 2006

We booked everything through Divesouth in South Africa and they really looked after us incredibly well. We would highly recommend them if you are planning a diving trip to South Africa. They arranged scuba diving at Aliwal Shoal with Aliwal Dive Charters and thanks to them I sorted out my mask problems and finally got to see some ragged tooth sharks!

The Great White shark diving was probably the best (and the coldest!) but worth every minute. We may be there to watch them, but considering the look in this one’s eye, I’m sure they’re just as curious of us - or maybe they are just thinking of food! This is me in the cage! Photo credits goes to He Who Doesn't Dig.

From our window at De Kelders B&B we saw plenty of Southern Wright Whales 'spyhopping' as in the picture and also breeching.

On safari at Hluhluwe we saw so many animals it was just amazing, but here are a few:

Sunday, August 13, 2006

After two and a half hours of working mainly on my hand and knees, I came away very satisfied, if a little achy and wet after the rain set in. I’ve made my first bed (1m x 5.25m) and planted Hungarian Rye seeds in 6 drills as green manure and winter cover. Should I cover it to deter the birds?Where the soil had been rotorvated (before it packed up) it was very spongy and crumbly- so the weeds that had grown in the last 5 weeks lifted up really easily. This is also due to the previous plot holder adding organic matter in vast quantities for x number of years! Thank you!I desperately want to get over there and continue, but the rain today is constant and looks set to last. Instead I will sort out our honeymoon photos for printing, and maybe post a few later.

Thursday, August 10, 2006

I couldn't put if off any longer- last night I visited my allotment and was faced with this!

I managed to pick most of the inherited raspberries (at the back of the picture) before the wedding (over 1Ib in weight) and there were a few late ones that I ate yesterday straight from the bush. In the first 5m of the foreground you can just make out where my fellow plot holder tried out his new reconditioned rotorvator (before it died) but that is the only bit that's been dug so far. I now have some serious weeding and digging to do, as the bindweed and some sort of thistly weed seem to have sprouted up everywhere!I was a little disheartened, but have to remind myself that this year is really only about preparing the plot for planting next spring. (But if I can get some plants in sooner I'll be very pleased!)

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

We got married at Swallows Oast and this was taken out in the pasture near the two large oak trees. My beautiful bridesmaids are all nieces, who literally took my breath away when I first saw them together.He Who Doesn't Dig looks quite short in this photo- but I assure you it's just the way he is sitting!!

Monday, August 07, 2006

Hello everyone the new Mrs She Who Digs is back!Thank you for all your kind words and best wishes re the flowers and our marriage!I will be posting some pictures of our fabulous day and also some of our honeymoon in South Africa, so please check back soon if you want to see sweet peas, sharks, elephants, white rhino, zebra and more!!

PS the picture of me paddling in the sea in my wedding dress was taken on Hastings beach, just as the sun was setting!